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Who are Greater Akron's top 2023 high school football running backs? Here are 10 to watch

michael beaven, akron beacon journal
·4 min read

Running the football successfully is a staple for most offenses in Ohio and the Greater Akron area.

Yes, going to a spread offense and passing the ball all over the field is fun and entertaining, but having a solid rushing attack is certainly nice to have when the weather turns cold and the snowflakes fall.

Archbishop Hoban turned to Lamar Sperling on a regular basis last season. Sperling, who now plays college football at Buffalo, enjoyed a record-breaking season as a running back, won Ohio's Mr. Football and helped Hoban finish as the Division II state runner-up for the second year in a row.

Now, who will step forward as the top running back in the Greater Akron area?

After opening our look at the area's top football players by breaking down the top quarterbacks, here are 10 running backs to watch this season.

Wylie Cheairs, Buchtel

Wylie Cheairs III of Buchtel runs for a touchdown during a Division IV regional quarterfinal at Northwest on Nov. 4, 2022.
Wylie Cheairs III of Buchtel runs for a touchdown during a Division IV regional quarterfinal at Northwest on Nov. 4, 2022.

Cheairs enters his senior season as Buchtel's top running back after helping the Griffins win the City Series championship and make the Division IV regional semifinals last season. Cheairs totaled 182 carries, 889 yards and eight touchdowns in 12 games last season. Justin Hill and D’ontae Fortson also return and are expected to make an impact in the Buchtel backfield.

Robert Dixie, Woodridge

Woodridge running back Robert Dixie scores a touchdown against Field in 2021 as teammate Kamari Mitchell prepares to block Samuel Dopkosky.
Woodridge running back Robert Dixie scores a touchdown against Field in 2021 as teammate Kamari Mitchell prepares to block Samuel Dopkosky.

Dixie returns with fellow senior Taysear Williams-Clay to give Woodridge a solid one-two punch at running back. The tandem helped Woodridge share the Metro Athletic Conference title with Cloverleaf and Norton. Dixie had 126 carries for 764 yards and 10 touchdowns. Williams-Clay had 86 carries for 626 yards and eight TDs.

Luke Dobbins, Norton

Norton running back Luke Dobbins pushes for yards against Bay in the second half of a Division III playoff game, Oct. 28, 2022.
Norton running back Luke Dobbins pushes for yards against Bay in the second half of a Division III playoff game, Oct. 28, 2022.

Dobbins, a senior, earned All-Ohio and All-Northeast Inland District honors in Division III last season as Norton shared the Metro Athletic Conference title and made the regional semifinals. Dobbins had 226 carries for 1,618 yards and 20 TDs. He also had 13 receptions for 156 yards and two TDs, and accumulated 105 tackles, two sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery as a middle linebacker. Dobbins and brothers Noah and Buddy Willig are Norton's leaders this season.

Kyle Figuray, Wadsworth

Figuray, a senior, is a standout in football and baseball. His junior football season included 186 carries for 1,042 yards and 21 touchdowns as Wadsworth made the Division I regional quarterfinals. His pitching and hitting abilities helped the Grizzlies baseball team win a Division I district title in the spring.

Hoban running back Caleb Jones carries the ball during the first quarter against Walsh Jesuit on Sept. 23, 2022.
Hoban running back Caleb Jones carries the ball during the first quarter against Walsh Jesuit on Sept. 23, 2022.

Caleb Jones, Archbishop Hoban

Jones, a senior, steps into a larger role this season as Hoban's No. 1 tailback after the graduation of Sperling. Jones had 34 carries last season for 248 yards and four TDs as Hoban finished as the Division II state runner-up. The Knights also figure to give carries to Xavier Williams, Khylan Osbey, Deon Rodgers and Brayton Feister. Williams had 19 carries, 291 yards and five TDs last season.

Ohio high school football: Who are Greater Akron's top 2023 high school football quarterbacks? Here's 10 to watch

CVCA running back Joey Kopec throws a second-half TD pass to Ricky Levak at Northwest on Sept. 30, 2022.
CVCA running back Joey Kopec throws a second-half TD pass to Ricky Levak at Northwest on Sept. 30, 2022.

Joey Kopec, CVCA

Kopec impressed as a freshman two-way starter last season at running back and linebacker. With the departure of the graduated Kyle Snider, Kopec will look to continue to grow this season. He earned All-Ohio honors in Division III last season as the Royals shared the Principals Athletic Conference title and made a playoff appearance. Kopec finished with 142 carries for 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns to go with 75 tackles and six sacks.

Ian Ludewig, Hudson

Ludewig was a hammer in the backfield for Hudson as a junior last season when the Explorers won the Suburban League National Conference championship and finished 13-1 as a Division II regional finalist. He suited up in all 14 games and finished with 382 carries for 2,193 yards and 26 TDs. Ludewig, who received All-Ohio honors in 2022, also is a standout lacrosse player and has committed to continue his career in that sport at the University of Utah.

Xzavier Macon, Barberton

Barberton running back Xzavier Macon carries in the third quarter against Wadsworth on Aug. 19, 2022.
Barberton running back Xzavier Macon carries in the third quarter against Wadsworth on Aug. 19, 2022.

Macon enters his senior season after a 2022 season in which he made an impact as a running back and as a linebacker as Barberton advanced to the Division II playoffs. Macon ran for 1,004 yards and 13 touchdowns on 145 carries. He also caught a TD pass and returned an interception for a score.

Daniel Peterson, Firestone

Firestone running back Daniel Peterson is hoisted up by teammates after scoring a touchdown at Copley on Aug. 26, 2022.
Firestone running back Daniel Peterson is hoisted up by teammates after scoring a touchdown at Copley on Aug. 26, 2022.

Peterson, a junior, was limited to 5½ games last season as a sophomore because of injuries, but in that time he flashed speed and strength. Peterson ran for 647 yards and five touchdowns on 92 carries and also caught one TD pass.

East running back Ziaire Stevens finds an opening against Firestone in 2022.
East running back Ziaire Stevens finds an opening against Firestone in 2022.

Ziaire Stevens, East

Stevens, a junior, is one of the most highly regarded running backs in Ohio with scholarship offers ranging from the MAC to the Big Ten and ACC. Akron, Ball State, Boston College, Cincinnati, Indiana, Kent State, Pittsburgh, Toledo, Purdue and Marshall are among the schools that have offered Stevens. He battled through injuries as a sophomore and finished with 152 carries for 1,401 yards and 12 TDs en route to All-Ohio honors as East made the Division III playoffs.

Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Top 10 Greater Akron high school football running backs for 2023